巴拿马大学（University of Panama, UP）是巴拿马最主要的公立高等教育机构，由总统令于1935年5月29日创建，同年10月正式开学，初始招收175名学生，开设教育、商业、自然科学等基础学科。作为巴拿马历史最悠久的大学，其主校区位于巴拿马城El Cangrejo社区，历经数十年扩建，已形成拥有多栋教学楼、实验室及区域中心的综合性校园，在科隆、奇里基等省份设有分校，为全国提供广泛的高等教育覆盖。

The University of Panama (UP) is Panama's premier public higher education institution, established by presidential decree on May 29, 1935, with official classes commencing in October of the same year. Initially enrolling 175 students, it offered foundational disciplines such as education, business, and natural sciences. As Panama's oldest university, its main campus is located in Panama City's El Cangrejo neighborhood, which has evolved into a comprehensive campus with multiple academic buildings, laboratories, and regional centers after decades of expansion. Branch campuses in provinces like Colón and Chiriquí provide extensive higher education coverage nationwide.

该校以学科多样性著称，优势专业涵盖教育类（学前教育、特殊教育）、商科与经济学（会计学、国际商务）、工程类（土木工程、电子工程）、医学与健康科学（临床医学、护理学）等领域。教育专业注重教学实践，商科结合巴拿马运河枢纽的区位优势培养国际视野，工程学科依托先进实验室开展应用研究，医学专业与国内医疗机构合作提供临床培训。2025年QS世界大学排名中，UP位列1201-1400区间，在中美洲地区具有较强的区域影响力。

The university is renowned for its disciplinary diversity, with strengths in education (preschool education, special education), business and economics (accounting, international business), engineering (civil engineering, electronic engineering), and medical and health sciences (clinical medicine, nursing). The education programs emphasize teaching practice, while business programs leverage Panama's strategic location as a canal hub to foster global perspectives. Engineering disciplines conduct applied research using advanced laboratories, and medical programs offer clinical training in partnership with domestic healthcare institutions. In the 2025 QS World University Rankings, UP placed in the 1201-1400 range, demonstrating strong regional influence in Central America.

作为公立大学，UP学费相对低廉，本科课程年费约3000-6000美元，研究生课程5000-10000美元，生活费年均约7200-14400美元，整体留学成本具有竞争力。主要授课语言为西班牙语，国际学生需具备相应语言能力。学校积极推动国际化，设有孔子学院等文化交流平台，与拉美及全球多所高校建立合作关系，毕业生在巴拿马及周边国家就业市场认可度较高，尤其在教育、工程、医疗等公共服务领域占据重要地位。

As a public university, UP offers relatively affordable tuition fees, with undergraduate programs costing approximately $3,000-$6,000 annually and graduate programs ranging from $5,000-$10,000. Living expenses average $7,200-$14,400 per year, making overall study costs competitive. The primary language of instruction is Spanish, requiring international students to demonstrate proficiency. The university actively promotes internationalization through platforms like the Confucius Institute and partnerships with universities across Latin America and globally. Its graduates enjoy high recognition in Panama's job market and neighboring countries, particularly in public service sectors such as education, engineering, and healthcare.